Malawi 2:1 Nigeria's Falconets (2:3 on aggregate) - Retrospective Reflection

I have to applaud the vociferous, boisterous and supremely supportive Malawian fans for making the stadium atmosphere electric and intolerable for our Falconets which added a layer of excitement to the entire experience of watching the match.

It was also supremely soul satisfying for me to see our bravely bold girls rise to the occasion like loafs of bread being baked in the bakery by silencing the home fans with the goal that sealed world cup qualification.

Even the Malawian fans could scarcely believe how early their girls scored. As much as I hate to apportion blame, our number 13 center back was asleep on the wheel to allow her opponent out-jump her with our goalkeeper criminally and comically out of position as the Malawian header sailed unaided into the back of our unhappy net- 1:0 to Malawi in just 7 minutes. Earlier, our goalkeeper had actually produced a delightful low save from a fine free kick.

Again another Nigeria centre back failed to clear the ball compellingly, leaving the same lethal Malawian striker 1 v 1 with our goalkeeper in 56 minutes; the outcome was never in any doubt - 2:0 to Malawi at that point which left the Falconets staring down the gun barrel of failure.

Now, despite the dire scoreline at that point, I paused to realise that there was so much salient quality being unveiled right before my eyes by the Falconets without me consciously realising it. This was all down to how dogged, focused and professional our girls were going about their business under the circumstances.

This is essentially a textbook study audience manipulation and how to stylishly and surreptitiously overcome adversity which was achieved through incisive direction from the coach, acceptable execution from individual players, and apt application from the team at large.

Their formation often morphed from 4-2-4 to 4-2-1-3. Though we were often thin in midfield, Malawi failed to capitalise beyond the 2 goals they scored.

Rather, Nigerian wingers stretch the pitch to near breaking point, delivering delicious crosses at will, like floating debris, whilst almost scoring severally from said crosses. The first half alone produced 7 corner kicks to Nigeria and several near misses as the Malawian goalkeeper made several fingertips saves.

I even recall a Nigerian shot hitting the bar with the goalkeeper well and truly beaten and another shot beating the goalkeeper only for a Malawi defender making a goalmouth clearance, sparing their blushes.

An entire book could be written detailing the tricks, techniques and tactics deployed by the Falconets today which eventually bore fruit after our striker stole the ball from a confused Malawian defender before raising the roof of the net in anger with a fiedish shot as the Malawi goalkeeper elected to avoid contact with the beastly ball that was out for blood - 2:1 in 61 minutes and thus the scores remain for Nigeria to win 3:2 on aggregate.

We need our centre defenders to be more alert, otherwise it was a supremely admirable Falconets display in enemy territory in front of passionate home fans who powered their team all the way only for our girls to ruin their party and reduce their girls to tears after 90 minutes.

World Cup, here we come!